Sigrid

A whistle sounded.

“Don’t tell me some 2nd Knight Order slacker took this thing down?”

Footsteps approached, but Sigrid Ankertna could only see the newcomer’s feet, unable to move her head.

Black boots with intricate silver flame patterns.

“Internal injury?”

As the man knelt on one knee, Sigrid finally recognized him.

‘Beramund!’

Her heart began to race.

“Well, I rushed here for nothing. Situation’s over. Impressive.”

Alkerto spoke to the man laughing heartily:

“Neither Lady Ankertna nor I can move right now.”

Beramund made a “Hmm?” sound and examined Alkerto’s wound.

‘Well, well.’

He sensed faint traces of Aura. The wound had been sealed with Aura.

“You’d better lie still until the medic arrives. As for this young lady—”

Beramund reached out and pulled open Sigrid’s shirt.

Pop pop—

Buttons fell off, exposing her chest.

“What are you doing!”

Beramund pressed Alkerto’s head to the ground as he tried to get up, then struck the back of his neck with his sword hilt. Caught off guard, Alkerto lost consciousness.

“Patients should stay quiet.”

Turning his attention from Alkerto, Beramund then gently touched Sigrid’s now completely transparent Aura Core with his finger. Sigrid’s crimson eyes narrowed, glaring at him.

Unpleasant. Unpleasant. Unpleasant.

Touching an Aura Core was like touching someone’s heart—an extremely sensitive area. In other words, Beramund’s action was very, very impolite, frankly speaking, an act that would justify Sigrid swinging her sword at him without question.

“You’re crazy.”

Beramund’s odd eyes gleamed with a smirk.

“This has cracked now. You know that?”

“I was prepared for that.”

Sigrid replied. Beramund chuckled.

“Why is an Aura Core user in the 2nd Knight Order?”

“I don’t believe I’m obligated to answer that.”

“Oh, by the way, I’m the captain of the Imperial Guard. I’m your far, far superior, you know.”

“I still don’t believe I’m obligated to answer.”

Sigrid replied again. Beramund reached out with his gloved hand and wiped the corner of Sigrid’s mouth.

“You’re dripping blood all over the place.”

Sigrid looked at him with a strange feeling. She and Beramund had a very poor relationship. Sigrid resented Beramund for seeming to be more favored by the Emperor than herself, and Beramund likewise looked down on her. He mocked her commoner birth and sneered at her as a dog.

But now, he was at least being ‘kind’.

Some might argue this isn’t kindness, but to Sigrid, Beramund’s current actions were kind. Usually, they’d be lucky not to draw swords at each other when they met.

“Ah, it’s newly formed. I wonder if it’ll self-repair at this stage.”

“If you touch me any further, I’ll report it as sexual harassment.”

“My, did you feel something?”

“That’s a question not worth answering.”

After speaking, Sigrid swallowed the blood welling up in her throat. Beramund watched this with keen interest.

Thinking he should somewhat discard his prejudices against female knights, he gently pressed her core.

“Then, as an apology, shall I help repair it a bit?”

“What—”

The Aura Core began to fill rapidly.

“Ugh—!”

Beramund slowly observed the diamond-shaped Aura Core turning black with his own Aura.

“It takes some time to repair a crack, you know. I’m temporarily filling it. This is something not just anyone can do, you know?”

After a moment, Beramund removed his hand. Sigrid felt it much easier to breathe. The pain and exhaustion disappeared, but the discomfort of having someone else’s Aura in her body remained unpleasant.

As she slowly tried to get up, Sigrid frowned slightly. Beramund wouldn’t miss that. His hand accurately pressed on her wound.

“Ugh—!”

Sigrid glared at him, curling up like a shrimp.

“It’s not broken. But it’ll be quite something later.”

Chuckling, Beramund looked straight into Sigrid’s eyes and said:

“Come to the Imperial Guard.”

“I refuse.”

“Huh?”

Beramund’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You’re in the 2nd Knight Order, right?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re refusing now?”

“Yes.”

“Just so you know, the Imperial Guard has about ten times the salary of the 2nd Knight Order, great benefits, strong authority, and lots of perks.”

“I’m aware.”

Sigrid answered calmly and looked down at her core. The obsidian-black core felt unfamiliar. As she tried to button up her shirt, she realized the buttons had been torn off and looked around.

“Did you lose something?”

“My buttons are missing.”

“They flew off earlier.”

“Then I should find them.”

“……”

“Those were silver buttons. They’re expensive.”

“…I’ll compensate you for them.”

Sigrid nodded at his words.

“Alright.”

“But are you really not coming? You won’t get another chance like this.”

“I’m not going.”

“Why?”

Sigrid looked at Beramund. Should she tell him?

“Not yet.”

“Hm?”

“I haven’t decided on a master yet.”

At those words, Beramund’s eyes widened before he burst into laughter.

“Puhahaha what? Hahaha, a, master, ahahaha— You’re really kekeke—”

Only after laughing until tears formed in his eyes did Beramund barely swallow his laughter, almost sobbing.

“Did you come from 200 years ago or something? Wow— A master. Wow.”

Sigrid felt disgust rising to her throat. She could suppress it solely because he was her superior—her commanding officer.

“You’re really something else.”

Beramund rested his chin on his hand.

Enduring even the shattering of her Aura Core to save a comrade, refusing to move up because she hadn’t decided on a master. What kind of fairy tale chivalry was this?

Just then, a commotion was heard from the distance. Beramund stood up.

“Lord Lunatil.”

Beramund turned to Sigrid in surprise at her calling him.

Oh? So she knew who he was but spoke informally at first?

“Could you take credit for defeating that magical beast? I don’t want to reveal that I have a core yet.”

“Alright.”

“Thank you.”

“So you owe me one?”

“……”

Seeing Sigrid’s sour expression, Beramund grinned. He waved his arm and shouted:

“Hey! Over here!”

People rushed over, marveling at the magical beast and praising Beramund. Even without him explicitly saying so, the atmosphere naturally assumed he had defeated it.

“Hey, could you keep it a secret that I killed it?”

Beramund smiled, holding up a finger.

“I’d like to give the credit to the 1st Knight Order.”

At those words, the 1st Knight Order members asked in bewilderment:

“Is that really alright?”

“Of course. It would be a shame if you came out for nothing, right?”

“Understood.”

Seeing the 1st Knight Order members’ faces brighten, Sigrid frowned slightly.

‘So that’s why.’

So that’s how it became known that the 1st Knight Order defeated the magical beast.

“Bring the wounded this way—!”

At the shout, Sigrid looked up. They were loading the unconscious Alkerto onto a stretcher. Sigrid refused, saying she could walk. She didn’t want to risk exposing her core while showing her rib injury.

“Want a ride?”

As Beramund offered, holding the reins of his horse, Sigrid declined with a “No, thank you,” and got into a carriage. His persistent attempts to get close were grating.

Returning to headquarters in the carriage, Sigrid was given three days of confinement for insubordination.

It was a light punishment, considering the circumstances. Although it was her first time being punished, Sigrid didn’t find it as difficult as expected, having already prepared herself for the consequences.

As she left the captain’s office, waiting 2nd Knight Order members rushed over.

“What happened? How did it go?”

When Marie-Chez asked anxiously, Sigrid smiled and answered:

“Three days of confinement.”

“That’s too harsh!”

“You were just trying to save a comrade!”

Kaul also protested. Morris shook his head and said:

“Still, it’s a light punishment. They must have taken the situation into account.”

“That’s right. Well, think of it as an extension of your vacation. It’ll take time for the wounds to heal anyway.”

Lowengrin Alsekidna added. Sigrid nodded.

“How’s Alkerto?”

“He received treatment from a healer and went home.”

Morris answered.

“I see. Do you know where his house is?”

“I’ll take you there.”

“You don’t have to—”

“Let me do something to help.”

“…Alright.”

As Sigrid agreed, Lowengrin said:

“I’ll lend you my carriage.”

“Thank you.”

“You have to tell us what happened later, okay?”

“Got it.”

Sigrid nodded with a smile at Marie-Chez’s words.

Lowengrin’s carriage was large and comfortable. It was a new world for Sigrid, who had only ridden in public carriages before. Even on unpaved roads, the soft cushions prevented any discomfort.

As Sigrid marveled at this, bouncing slightly to test the softness, she clutched her side and groaned. Morris spoke sharply:

“Are you crazy?”

“Huh?”

“What were you thinking, going there alone?”

“Well……”

“Even if you’re dying soon, you should value your life!”

“Yeah……”

‘I’m sorry.’

Feeling guilty for not mentioning her Aura Core, Sigrid lowered her head apologetically. Because of this, she missed the “even if you’re dying soon” part.

“I was really shocked. Getting an emergency call on my day off about a magical beast appearing, then arriving at the knight order to find half dead and everyone injured… And you even disobeying orders to go save Alkerto……”

“I’m sorry.”

Sigrid apologized, bowing her head deeply. Morris sighed and crossed his legs.

“And insubordination, of all things.”

There was no excuse for that.

“I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for.”

Morris folded his arms and stared at her.

“Huh?”

As she looked up, he smiled.

“Actually, I’m a bit happy but also not happy. It’s complicated.”

“What do you mean?”

“The old you would never have disobeyed orders, right?”

“……”

Sigrid had nothing to say to that. It was certainly true. Morris continued:

“I’m glad you stepped up to save Alkerto, but I’m not happy that you don’t seem to value your own life.”

“I was confident I’d survive.”

She offered a weak excuse. Morris narrowed his eyes.

“Against a magical beast?”

“Well, I’m confident in my skills……”

“That may be true, but what if the Imperial Guard hadn’t arrived quickly? As annoying as they are, those guys are really skilled.”

“They’re really annoying bastards indeed.”

Morris added once more. Sigrid nodded at his words.

Beramund is certainly annoying.

Though separately, his skills are extremely exceptional.

‘When I was being called a dog, he was the esteemed Black Knight.’

Suddenly, a strange irritation welled up inside her.